New to ferrets

[tnewman]

Hello all! My daughter and I are adopting a 2.5-year-old ferret. He seems very nice - reliable in his litter box, doesn't nip, personable little guy! He will be my daughter's responsibility (she is 16), with me for backup.

He is currently on Zupreem's ferret kibble, but I would like to switch him to a more natural diet. My dogs are raw fed and have been for the last 6 years or so. My cat is not raw fed but I wish she were - I never managed to get her to accept raw food and she is now 19 years old, so I figure we're doing well if she eats and plays and is happy! We also do not vaccinate, and I use homeopathy when possible to avoid medications.

I am so glad I found this forum! I figure we should let him stay on his kibble for a few weeks until he is adjusted to our home (right?), but then I would like to try to switch him to whole prey/raw foods. I need to read more on your forum and gather info, and then I am sure I will need assistance getting him to switch.

We won't pick him up until Sunday, so we have a few days to prepare and try to ferret-proof my daughter's room.

Is there a website that contains info? I have seen some posts about the Holistic Ferret website, but I have not been able to find it.

Thanks in advance for all the info!

Tracy

[Heather]

Hi and welcome to both you and your daughter
Everyone has their own ideas as to when and how a ferret should be switched over. I run a small private rescue/sanctuary/hospice, when a ferret comes through my door, the day he/she comes through my door is the day that they start their transition to raw. Everything is new, they get a new name, new friends and a new diet. This is the beginning of their new life. It's just my way
Please feel free to prowl the site, check out the various threads, if you can't find an answer ask. Everyone is friendly and they're more than willing to help out. There is a ton of very useful information to tap into here, you need only ask I strongly suggest that you check out the nutritional section and read through some of the threads there. Read through our mentoring section. Though you cannot post to the individual threads, there is a lot of information about switching, methods and recipes. You can also apply to the mentoring program but we encourage you to start your own thread in the newbie questions and allow the forum to assist you in getting started. The mentoring program is presently full but there are openings happening all the time (I've just recently graduated a couple of students).
I hope that I will be hearing tales about your little ones exploits and seeing photos (we love photos). Good luck, enjoy your little one and most of all enjoy
ciao

[sherrylynne]

Hello, and welcome I know what you mean about the cats I've got 4 of those,a s well as nine ferrets. Ferrets all go onto raw as soon as they come into the house. So far, only a couple of the cats are interested, and those only part time!
Congrats on adopting a ferret. He'll certainly liven things up!